Case shift mechanism for typewriters



July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Shegts-Sheet l INVENTOR.

EDWIN O. BLODGETT FW/IQMQM ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

' CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWIN O BLODGETT BY 10W ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E, 0, BLODGETT 2,797,790

.CASE. SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS.

Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORN EY July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 sheets-sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY y 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT BY flM/AL W ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 15, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. O. BLODGETT CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 A INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY y 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS l7 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed-Oct. 13, 1950 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT BY fifl/ 40W ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 1 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT ATTORNEY E. O. BLODGETT CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 July 2, 1957 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. EDWIN O. BLODGETT BY 54,; 40W

ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT .CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS.

Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 11 A INVENTOR. v EDWlN O.BLODGETT BY M/JM ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. o; BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVEN TOR. EDWIN OBLODGETT ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 nvmvrox EDWIN o. BLODGETT ATTORNEY y 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTOR. EDWIN OBLODGETT BY 7240M 0M ATTOR N EY July 2, 1957 E, o, BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS' Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 17 Sheets-Sheet l5 INVENTOR- EDWIN OVBLODQETT ATTORNEY July 2, 1957 E. o. BLODGETT 2,797,790

CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1950 1'7 Sheets-Sheet l7 29 K r 1 I J 22/ a 8/0 III I f l In? IN VEN TOR. EDWIN O BLODGETT ATTORNEY United States Patent CASE SHIFT MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Edwin Blodgett, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Commercral Controls Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application October 13, 1950, Serial No. 189,980, now Patent No. 2,700,446, dated January 25, 1955. glgjg and this application March 21, 1952, Serial No.

6 Claims. (Cl. 197-74) This invention relates to typewriter structures. The 1nvention herein was conceived in connection with the tape controlled typewriter of my application for Patent Ser. No. 189,980, filed October 13, 1950, and now issued as Patent No. 2,700,446, of which this application is a division, and in which application is shown and claimed a typewriter in which a control tape is coded by perforating and in which such control tape is then used for the automatic control of the typewriter in reproducing copy.

The machine of my parent application includes a power operated typewriter having code selecting mechanism operative upon depression of a key lever to select a code representative of the character controlled by such lever, together with a tape punch controlled by the key controlled selector for producing combinational code perforations in a control tape. The machine also includes means for sensing a tape perforated as stated and for translating such perforations to the end that the power operated type action of the typewriter may be under the control of the perforated tape for transcribing text in printed form.

Accordingly, it is important that the normal typewriter structures and functions be conditioned for best performance under automatic power control. It is, therefore, a specific object of this invention to provide an improved case shift mechanism having key lever controlled cams for moving the type basket into its respective operative positions, the cams being operative to break toggles which provide the desired accelerated motion of the type basket.

The mechanism also serves to lock the type basket in each position of operation.

The foregoing objective is attained in a power operated typewriter having a movable type basket by providing a toggle mechanism for supporting the type basket in either upper case or lower case printing position and in conjunction therewith there is provided a key actuated power mechanism for moving the type basket to one printing position and a separate key actuated power mechanism for moving the type basket to the other printing position.

Specific objects, features and advantages of the invention will become clear as the description of the machine is read in light of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exterior perspective view of the writing machine constituting the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the machine at a point just above the keyboard;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the keyboard, the power roller, and the type basket;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of toggle mechanism for shifting the type basket to lower case position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and shows the toggle linkage in the released position assumed when the type basket is in upper case position;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the toggle mechanism for shifting the type basket to upper case position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but shows the toggle linkage in the released position which it assumes when the basket is shifted to lower case position;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the ribbon shifting mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a view of the mechanism at the right hand portion of Fig. 8, showing the elements in shifted position;

Fig. 10 is a view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the platen indexing mech-- anism;

Fig. 12 is a view taken on line 1212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an end elevational View of the carriage;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the escapement mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view through the power roller, the type basket, the carriage and the escapement mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 16- 16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a large scale detail view of part of the carriage release mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on line 18-18 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a rear elevation of the tabulating and car riage release mechanism;

Fig. 19a is a fragmentary plan view made in section of Fig. 19 showing the carriage rebound latch;

Fig. 19b is a fragmentary elevational view of the rebound latch shown in Fig. 19a;

Fig. 20 is a rear elevation of a part of the carriage release and tabulating mechanism, certain parts having been removed to show underlying structure;

Fig. 20a is a fragmentary detail in elevation of the carriage return linkage of Fig. 19 arranged to operate a carriage return contact;

Fig. 20b is a fragmentary view in elevation of the linkage shown in Fig. 19 for operating a carriage control contact during line spacing operations;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view on line 2121 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 illustrates the carriage return control clutch and its associated operating mechanism, the view being along the clutch axis;

Fig. 23 is a rear plan view of the tabulating mechanism showing the parts in one position of operation;

Fig. 24 is a rear plan view of the tabulating mechanism shown in Fig. 23, but showing the parts thereof in a different position of operation;

Fig. 25 is a vertical section transversely of the platen carriage of the writing machine, including tabulating key linkage and power mechanism;

Fig. 26 shows a tabulating release lever latch and its associated operating linkage;

Fig. 27 is a plan view of the tabulating mechanism shown in Fig. 23; and

Fig. 28 is a plan view of the tabulating mechanism shown in Fig. 24.

Power frame and type action The machine is assembled around a sturdy four-sided base 10 formed by a right and left aluminum casting joined at the front by another aluminum casting and at the rear by an angular steel plate 11 extending over the top rear portions of the side castings to brace the entire assembly. A power frame assembly 12, a code selector 13 and a code translator 14 are mounted between the two side castings. A tape punch 15 and a tape reader 16 are mounted on the left hand side of the frame. A carriage and rail assembly is mounted between the top rear portions of the two side castings, and a space at the rear of the carriage is provided for auxiliary apparatus.

A single, constant speed H. P. motor 17 is mounted on the inner face of the rear frame plate 11, and this motor is connected by a V-belt 18 to a power shaft 19.

Power shaft 19 is connected by means "of a chain drive 20 to a continuously rotating power roll 21 which is adapted to operate the type bars through a conventional cam arrangement as will be more fully pointed out. The motor 17 is also connected to drive the tape punch 15, the tape reader 16 and the translating mechanism 14. This drive is achieved through a series of gears as follows. The power shaft 19 through gear 22 drives a gear 23 on the drive shaft of the tape punch 15. A gear 24 fixed to the power roll shaft is in mesh with a gear 25 on the drive shaft of the tape reader 16. A pair of gears 26 imparts driving power to the code translator mechanism 14. The individual gears for driving each of these units not only afford the proper relative speeds, but also permit easy removal of each unit from the base.

The power frame 12 which is mounted within the base has assembled thereon the key levers 27 and the power operated type actions. The key levers 27 are operable to control their associated power cams with a minimum of effort. The manner in which the operating cams are energized by the power roll 21 will appear more fully hereinafter. A normally energized magnetic lock 28 (Fig. 2) adapted to rock a key lever locking bail 29 (see Fig. 3) is provided to prevent effective operation of the keys when the power for any reason is off, or when the keys should not be operated for any other reason.

Each key lever controls a cam assembly contacting with the constantly running power roll 21 whereby each lever control cam furnishes the power for operating a type bar through a bell crank and, in addition, operates a slide of the code selector mechanism 13.

The manner in which power is imparted to the operative mechlanism of the machine will be only briefly described since the arrangement is generally shown in the International electric writing machine formerly known as the Electromatic. It is in connection with electric writing machines of this type that the invention has been disclosed. However, it will be understood that the inven tion is not limited in application to the specific machine selected for purpose of illustration, but may be applied to other power operated writing machines.

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the key levers 27 are pivoted on a rod 30 which is supported by a cross member of the power frame assembly. The power roller 21 is mounted under the power frame assembly for rotation in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) by means of the drive connections to the motor previously described.

Cooperating with the power roll 21 are oam units 31 which are pivotally mounted on rods 32 extending parallel with the power roller 21. There is a cam unit 31 associated with each key lever 27 and each cam unit in control of a type bar is connected by a link 33 with a bell crank 34 pivoted on rod 30. The bell cranks 34 are connected by links 35 to the type bars 36 through the medium of toggles 37. The type bars 36 late pivoted on the usual Wire segment 38 provided on a type bar segment 39 located in front of the conventional platen. The platen, as will appear hereinafter, is rotatably mounted in a oarriage which is supported on front and rear rails by means of suitable anti-friction roller trucks.

When any character key 40 is depressed, its cam unit 31 is caused to operably engage the power roller 21 in a well known way, thereby rocking the cam unit 31 clockwise or counterclockwise, according to whether the operaative cam unit is pivoted on the left or on the right hand rod 32, respectively. The rocking of the cam unit causes its link 33 or 42 (for the cam units on the right and left respectively, Fig. 3) to be drawn downwardly, thereby rocking the corresponding bell crank 34. This movement of the bell crank 34, through the corresponding link 35 and toggle 37, causes type bar 36 associated with the selected key to rock in a printing stroke and to make an impression of the type upon a work sheet carried about the platen. The type bar 36, near the end of its operative stroke, engages and actuates the usual universal bar 41 (Fig. 15).

It may be pointed out that the operating linkage for the type bars 36 which has just been described includes several novel features which render the linkage system adjustable to secure an optimum and a uniform impression of the type. In Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the downwardly depending link 42 is connected to its cam assembly 31 ('at the left, Fig. 3) at the forward or keyboard side of the power roll by means of a threaded pin 43, which is pivoted at one end to the link 42 and which is adjustably threaded at its other end into Ia socket 44 in the horizontal leg of the cam unit frame. The links depending downwardly from the bell cranks 34 are composed of two sections which are screwed into each other, thereby providing a further adjustment by means of which the associated cams may be accurately spaced with respect to the power roll. it will appear, therefore, that the leverage asserted through the link and the cam unit may be adjusted through the threaded pin 43. It may also be pointed out that the toggle 37 consisting of arms 45 and 46 is so arranged as to effectively inhibit rebound action of the type bars 36. One end of the arm 45 of the toggle is mounted ou a fixed pivot rod 47, while the other end is pivoted to the arm 46 by means of a pivot pin 48. The operative connection of the arm 46 of the toggle to the type bar 36 is at a pivot pin 49. The operation of the toggle mechanism is stabilized by a spring 50 which is attached to the toggle arm 46 lat one of its ends and to a fixed frame member at its other end. It will be observed that when the toggle linkage 4546 is in its extended position the points 47, 48 and 49 are in a substantially straight line so that upon return of the type bar 36 to its position of rest, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the toggle linkage will in effect constitute a lock against the rebound action of the type bar 36. A fine adjustment of the toggle linkage may be obtained by either slightly shortening the arm 45 or by lengthening it. Such alteration 'of the arm 45 is easily achieved by either springing apart, or closing a pair of cars 51 which constitute the legs of a generally U-shaped portion of the arm 45.

Case shift The type basket 52, see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, is mounted for selective shifting between upper and lower case printing positions by mounting the same on two sets of parallel leaf springs in the well known manner. For the purpose of shifting the type basket, there has been provided herein improved power operated mechanism. A key lever and cam assembly is provided for shifting the basket to one position, and a separate key lever and cam assembly is provided for shifting it to the other position. This provides positive, fast, automatic operation of the type basket shift for selectively printing upper or lower case characters under the control of the code translator mechanism 14. Two oppositely disposed toggle mechanisms adjustably hold the basket in its two shifted positions, and the power from each basket shift cam unit is applied to move the basket by breaking its associated toggle. This imparts an easy, accelerated motion to the basket. Specifically, the manner in which the type basket is shifted from one position to another will be seen by reference to Figs. 4-7, wherein Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the shifting mechanism at the left side of the type basket and Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the shifting mechanism at the right side of the basket. Furthermore, Figs. 4 and 7 show the position of the shifting mechanism at the left and right side of the basket, respectively, when the basket has been moved upwardly for printing lower case characters, while Figs. 5 and 6 show the position of the mechanism at the left and right side, respectively, when the basket has been moved downwardly for printing of upper case characters. A lower case key LC1 is disposed at the right hand side of the keyboard, and depression of this key will operate a cam assembly as will be pointed out hereinafter. The key LC1 is connected by means of a transverse bail 53 (Fig. 3) with a lower case shift key LCZ disposed at the left hand side of the keyboard. An upper case shift key UC1 is disposed at the left hand side of the keyboard and depression of this key will operate an associated cam assembly, as will be pointed out hereinafter. The upper case shift key UC1 is attached to an upper case shift key UC2 which is disposed at the right hand side of the keyboard by means of a transverse bail 54. It will appear, therefore, that depression of either of the case shift keys LCl or LCZ on the one hand or UC1 or UC2 on the other hand will effect a shifting movement of the type basket.

Fig. 4 of the drawings shows the type basket 52 in its upper position in which lower case characters are printed. To the rear face of a side frame member of the basket 52 is attached a bracket 55 by means of a pair of screws, and to the bracket 55 are pivoted toggle levers 58 and 59. One end of a third toggle lever 56 is pivoted on a shaft 60, while the other end of the lever 56 is pivoted to the lever 59 at an intermediate point thereof by means of a pivot pin 61. The free end of the lever 59 has a stud 62 extending from a face thereof to which is attached a spring 63 which is anchored at its other end to a fixed frame member. The other end of the lever 59 is pivoted to the bracket 55 by means of a pivot pin 59a. The lever 58 of the toggle system has one end thereof pivoted on a pivot pin 64 carried by the bracket 55. The opposite end of the lever 58 is pivoted to a short lever 65 by means of a pivot pin 66, the short lever 65 being secured to a rock shaft 67.

The toggle system as it is disposed in Fig. 4, when the type basket is elevated to its lower case position, has the pivot points 59a, 60 and 61 of the toggle system in substantial alignment and the spring 63 under substantial tension, and is effective to exert considerable turning force on a finger 70 which holds the toggle levers 59 and 56 in their straightened relation, as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the lever 56 engages the finger 70 of a release lever 69 which is in turn stopped by extension 71 and stop 72. This positively holds the basket in its upper position. The arrangement at the other side of the basket has a like function.

In order to release the basket 52 to its lower position for the printing of upper case characters, it is merely necessary to depress either key UC1 or UC2 to rock the key lever 67a about the rod 30, whereby its associated cam assembly is brought into contact with the power roll 21 and a connecting link 68 is thereby drawn downwardly. The toggle release lever 69 is pivoted for rocking movement about the rock shaft 60 and the upper free end of the release lever 69 has an inturned finger 70 which abuts the edge of the lever 56 to rock the same in a clockwise direction to break the toggle linkage into the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The release lever 69 has an extension 71 which is adapted to contact a stop member 72 when the release lever and its associated cam assembly are in normal or non-operated position.

As viewed in Fig. 5 of the drawings the case shift toggle linkage is in its released position wherein the force of the spring 63 is directed along a line from its point of anchorage 62 through the pivot point 59a of the lever 59. In this position the effect of the spring is substantially neutralized.

When the type basket is in its upper case position, the operating toggle at the right hand side of the basket is as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, while its position at that side of the basket for lower case printing is shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The toggle linkage at the right side of the basket which controls the shifting of the basket into the lower case position is in all respects similar to the shifting mechanism at the left hand side of the basket with the exception that the position of the lever 59 is reversed to that of lever 590. That is to say,

the pivot point 59a of Figs. 4-5 is disposed as shown at 59b, Figs. 6-7, at the bottom edge of the bracket 55a while the free end of the lever 59c extends upwardly when the toggle system is in its extended or operative position. If, therefore, the basket is in its upper case position (Fig. 6) and it is desired to shift the same to lower case position (Fig. 7), it is merely necessary to depress the lower case shift key LCl and its associated key lever 73 to rock the lever downwardly about the rod 30. This will effectively release its cam assembly for contact with the power roll 21 with the result that the link 68a is moved downwardly and the release lever 69a will be rocked into contact with the toggle lever 56a so that the toggle system will be broken into the position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings where the force of the spring 63a extends substantially from its point of connection 62a with the lever 59c through the pivot point 59b whereby its effect on the toggle linkage issubstantially nullified.

The type basket 52 has lugs 74 extending forwardly from each side thereof, and these lugs carry stop screws 75 on which stop nuts 76 are threaded. The stop nuts 76 at the left side of the basket are adapted in the upper case position (Fig. 5) to contact the face of a stop bar 77 fixed to and extending forwardly from a portion of the power frame. The stop nuts 76 at the right hand side of the basket are adapted in the lower case position (Fig. 7) to contact the lower face of the stop bar 77 at the right hand side of the basket. The movement of the type basket 52 may, therefore, be accurately limited by adjusting the stop nuts '76, the pair at the left hand side of the basket for limiting downward movement of the basket and the pair at the right hand side of the basket for limiting upward movement of the basket.

When one set of toggles is operated to shift the basket a slight compression force is exerted on the stop members 7577 (Fig. 7) at the opposite side of the basket. Thus, the force applied at one side of the machine is resisted to some extent at the other side. This is effective to take up all the play that may be in pivots 64, 66 and in the bearings of rock shaft 67.

The importance of the foregoing case shift control lies in the fact that the toggle linkage system is broken by power roll energy, whereby a mechanical advantage is realized and wear on the power roll is minimized. Furthermore, the movement of the type basket is rapid and positive under the influence of the breaking of the toggle linkage and the spring 63.

Ribbon shift In order that the ribbon field or color may be shifted during automatic tape controlled operation of the machine, as to be pointed out hereinafter, there has been provided means herein for shifting the fabric ribbon by means of a key lever controlled cam. In this regard attention is directed to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings. The machine is provided with conventional ribbon shift mechanism, but this mechanism has been placed under the influence of power cam mechanism. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a shaft 78 which is mounted for rocking motion in the power frame elements 79 and 80 is the shaft which is manually rocked in conventional writing machines for effecting color change or field shift of the writing ribbon. To the outer end of the shaft 78 has been fixed a rocker plate 81 which carries a control plate 82 in spaced relation in respect to the outer face thereof. Spacing pins 83 and 84 mount the control plate 82 in fixed relation to the rocker plate 81. The control plate 82 has a pair of forwardly extending diverging fingers 85 and 86, which serve to anchor one end of a pair of springs 87 and 88, the opposite ends of these springs being anchored at a common point in a laterally extending lug 89 carried by a lever 90. The rear end 91 of the lever 90 is T-shaped so that opposite ends of the T abut the spacing pins 83 and 84, respectively, depending on whether the lever 90 

